Interview with Evelyn Simons (Co-founder of RendezVous) by Stefan Kobel (artmagazine)
The king is dead, long live the king! After the Brussels Gallery Weekend surprisingly announced its discontinuation after 16 editions at the end of April, there is now a successor: Rendez-Vous- Brussels Art Week now has a successor. Curators and authors Evelyn Simons and Laure Decock have curated a program for Brussels galleries that offers even more than its predecessor. Stefan Kobel spoke to Evelyn Simons about her initiative.
Why was the Gallery Weekend canceled?
Evelyn Simons: The last Brussels Gallery Weekend was organized by “Brussels Art Days”, which discontinued its work at the end of April this year. However, after talking to several gallery owners, we realized there was still a desire to maintain this September momentum. This allowed us to develop a new initiative that we implemented during May and June 2024. Given the extremely short period and the summer break, 2024 will be a soft launch to bring the galleries back together and work towards a more ambitious program for 2025.
What is the difference between RendezVous and Gallery Weekend? Are the galleries more or less the same?
ES: We are delighted to have the support of 53 galleries, which is more than in previous editions. However, our Brussels Art Week also wants to build bridges with the non-commercial institutional and artist-run initiatives in the city. The year 2025 will thus be more hybrid, as a broad, varied, and festive start to the new art season after the summer.
How is RendezVous financed? Is it an initiative or a company of Laure Decock and Evelyn Simons?
ES: We have created a new non-profit structure. This year we carried out our soft launch thanks to the support of the 53 galleries and our partners VisitBrussels, the Foundation pour les Arts Bruxelles, the NECA (New Exhibitions Contemporary Art Brussels), and Art Brussels. We will work intensively on fundraising and building relationships with private and public partners to ensure a sustainable future for RendezVous.
The date is one week later compared to previous years. Is this a permanent date change?
ES: We have kept the date, originally planned for this year and will evaluate the scheduling after this first edition.
text and image: courtesy artmagazine.cc
RendezVous- Brussels Art Week runs from 12-15 September 2024
Participating Venues
Alice Gallery
Almine Rech
Ballon Rouge
Baronian
BEIGE
Belgian Gallery
Damien & The Love Guru
De Brock Gallery
dépendance
Espace Constantin Chariot
Esther Verhaeghe Art Concepts
Felix Frachon Gallery
Frédérick Mouraux Gallery
Galerie Christophe Gaillard
Galerie de la Béraudière
Galerie Dys
Galerie Eric Mouchet
Galerie Greta Meert
Galerie La Forest Divonne
Galerie Nathalie Obadia
Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach
Gauli Zitter
Gladstone Gallery
Grège Gallery
Harlan Levey Projects
Hopstreet Gallery
Irène Laub Gallery
Jan Mot
KIN
Lee Bauwens Gallery
LMNO
Lodovico Corsini
Martins&Montero
MARUANI MERCIER
Meessen
Mendes Wood DM
Michel Rein
Modesti Pedriolle Gallery
Montoro 12
Nino Mier Gallery
Nosbaum Reding
Pierre Marie Giraud
QG Gallery
rodolphe janssen
Sorry We’re Closed
Spazio Nobile
Stems Gallery
Super Dakota
SYBIL
Templon
Whitehouse Gallery
Wouters Gallery
Xavier Hufkens